St Kilda forward Jack Higgins is likely heading to the Tribunal for a dangerous tackle on Friday night, but the Saints have a case to set him free.
That’s the opinion of Gerard Whateley, who believes Aliir Aliir – who was concussed as a result of Higgins’ dangerous tackle – contributed to his own injury.
Higgins picked up the Power defender midway through the second term of an eventual 10-point loss and dumped him into the ground, with Aliir’s head making significant contact with the turf.
Jack Higgins gave away a free kick for a dangerous tackle on Aliir Aliir. #AFLPowerSaints pic.twitter.com/lHt34LvNqg
— AFL (@AFL) April 26, 2024
Whateley conceded Match Review Officer Michael Christian has a big decision on his hands.
“I think it gets graded… but I do think there is (a case to be made that Higgins gets off at the Tribunal),” Whateley told SEN’s Crunch Time on Saturday morning.
“I feel huge sympathy for Higgins in this scenario. There are a whole lot of things that conspire against him in a tackle that wasn’t going to end like that, ends like that.”
A rough conduct charge graded careless conduct, high contact and at least high impact, with severe impact more likely given Aliir was concussed, will net Higgins a ban starting at two games.
The club was understandably cautious regarding Aliir’s health, having last year been fined $100,000 over the managing of a head knock to their star backman in the Showdown.
Higgins went on to play a key role, kicking two goals from 11 touches as the Saints hung in a game they had little right to win.
David King, who has been a key supporter in the AFL’s quest to protect the head, added he doesn’t believe it’s a suspendable offence.
“I come back to intent. I don’t think at any stage was he intending to dump him until Aliir put himself in some weird position kicking the ball,” the North Melbourne great explained.
“Allir is a big frame, you have to put all of your effort into getting him down. I don’t think Higgins was trying to get him down on his head but because he went in that kicking motion, there was no other option… he basically put himself not that position.
“I can’t see it being three weeks, I really can’t, and I think he’d be unlucky to be suspended and every now and then we’re going to have one of these.”
It’s a difficult position given Aliir has to dispose of the footy or be pinned for holding the ball, while Higgins is within his rights to tackle in the manner in which his tackle began.
King also gave his thoughts on Port defender Kane Farrell’s dangerous tackle on young Saint Darcy Wilson.
“I think this is something we’ve really to come down on. I think we’ve got to fine the faker, the guy who is pretending he’s been slammed,” King stated.
“The motionless guy on the ground is enough to make us all think he’s in trouble… he’s conned the umpire into a free kick, but all this other stuff going on with head trauma, we’re bending rules, we’re straining the old and new thoughts on the game, everyone is arguing with each other because of what we’ve had to do, this has to be stamped out quickly.”
Aliir will miss against Adelaide in next week’s Showdown against Adelaide, while Wilson was not injured in the clash.
It was a game of triumphs and losses for both sides. While Port Adelaide got back on the winner's list, it came as a result of three injury concerns to Connor Rozee, Sam Powell-Pepper and Aliir.
The Saints were belted for much of the contest, Ross Lyon's men – as they often have this season – hung in to make it a close contest.